Bath hold off spirited Sarries

The west country club led 28-18 at the interval through tries from Andy Beattie, Danny Grewcock, David Bory and Shaun Berne but surrendered the initiative in the second half.

Scroll down to read more:

Saracens winger Dan Scarbrough ran in a brace to help peg back the beaten 2003 finalists but they could not finish the job against a side playing for their last chance of winning silverware this season.

The home side had tries from Neil de Kock and Kris Chesney disallowed in a tense final quarter with a well-taken brace from winger Rodd Penney keeping them in touch during the first half.

Perfect playing conditions contributed to an entertaining all-English semi-final at Vicarage Road, with Bath second row Danny Grewcock taking the man of the match award.

A missed pass from Andy Farrell started the scoring, with Saracens winning a scrappy scrum and releasing to the England centre who picked out Thomas Castaignede.

The French full-back had bust into the line and he drew opposite number Joe Maddock before supplying the scoring pass to Rodd Penney.

Bath's reply was emphatic as they ran in two tries in three minutes - with help from some poor Saracens defending.

Flanker Andy Beattie barged over for the first following a bulldozing run from Danny Grewcock, with referee Nigel Owens seeking confirmation from the television match official.

The second try saw Maddock and Olly Barkley make inroads before Michael Lipman carried the move on only to be stopped inches short.

But Grewcock was on hand to pick up and drive over, with Barkley slotting both conversions to give Bath a 14-5 lead.

Glen Jackson hit back with a penalty but then gifted Bath a third try when his attempted pass to Sorrell was intercepted by David Bory, who crossed under the posts.

Barkley landed the easy conversion but Saracens further slashed the deficit with Jackson atoning for his earlier error.

First the Kiwi slotted a penalty and then he offloaded late in the tackle to Penney, who finished with aplomb from 25 yards out.

Jackson converted and added a second penalty to peg Bath back to 21-18 but Shaun Berne ran through tackles from Shane Byrne and de Kock - with Barkley converting - to send Bath clear once again.

Saracens drew first blood in the second half with excellent awareness from Jackson doing the damage once again.

A heartbeat before the New Zealand Maori was grounded by Berne's tackle, he popped the ball up for Dan Scarbrough, who stepped inside Maddock to touch down from close range.

Jackson converted but Barkley booted a penalty to leave Bath just 31-25 ahead.

Chesney was held up over the line but the London club could not be denied in the 71st minute when Scarbrough scampered in at the corner.

The Saracens fightback was over, however, as Bath took control of the game to preserve their one-point lead.